End-gate for lumber-wagons.



J. G. PBASTBR.

END GATE FOR LUMBER WAGONS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 15, 1912.

1,104,645. a ented July 21, 1914.

NU/humus E Gamma,

UNITE $TATES PATENT FFTCE.

JOHN G. FEASTER, OF SKEDEE, OKLAHOMA.

END-GATE FOR LUMBER-WAGONS.

Application filed November 15, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN C. Fnasrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Skedce, in the county of Pawnee and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in End-Grates for LumberlVagons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in end gates for wagons.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a twopart end gate, one part of which is hinged to the other and adapted to be opened outwardly to permit of the unloading of grain or other contents of the wagon, the other part being practically one with a wagon box or body, so that the same is less liable to become lost or broken.

Another object of the invention is to provide an end gate wherein the lower hinged member of the gate may be securely retained in either an open or closed position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide awagon end gate of this class which will embody the desirable features of simplicity, cheapness of construction and reliability in action.

With the above recited objects in view, and others which will appear as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed, the improvement resides in the construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts set forth and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of a wagon body, showing the improved end gate applied, Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the lower member of the gate swung to an open position, Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the device as illustrated in Fig. 1, and in a plane with, but directly above, the locking rods.

In the drawing like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 1 designates an ordinary wagon body or box which has its rear portion or end normally open. The side members of the box, at a suitable distance away from their outer edges are each provided with a vertically extending cleat 2, while the upper portion of the said ends, and at a suitable distance away from the cleats 2 are further provided with spaced plates or cleats 3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Serial No. 731,574.

These cleats are of a length less than the width of the top section 4 of the end gate, and the said section is provided upon its outer face with spaced reinforcing elements, in the nature of cleats 5 which are provided with openings that register with similar openings in the outer cleats 3. Passing through these registering openings are securing elements in the form of removable rods 6.

The lower section 7 of the end gate is hingedly connected with the upper section as indicated by the numerals 8, and the said lower section has its outer face centrally provided with a plate 9. The plate has its opposite edges slitted longitudinally and out-turned to provide eyes 10, the purpose of which will presently be set forth. The lower longitudinal edge of the plate 9 is further provided with a pair of spaced studs or projections 11. The hinged member 7 of the end gate, adjacent its opposite edges is provided with longitudinally extending plates 12, each of the said plates being slitted and the metal therebetween bent outwardly to provide eyes 13 which are adapted to register with the eyes in the plate 9.

Passing through the eyes 10 and 13 are oppositely disposed locking members, in the nature of rods 14 which have their inner faces arranged angularly, as at 15, to serve as finger holes.

The angular portion or finger holes 15 of each of the rods are arranged between one of the cars 10 and the stud nearest the said ear, the said studs thus serving as locking members when the rods are swung to bring their angular ends into co-acting engagement with the studs. The rods 14 are each preferably threaded for the reception of an adjusting nut 16, and each of the said nuts is adapted to normally bear against the inner face of each of the eyes 13. Surrounding each of the rods and exerting a tension between its particular nut 16 and its particular ear 10 is a helical spring 17. The side members of the wagon body adjacent the lower portion or floor thereof are provided each with a keeper plate 19 that is formed with an opening for the reception of the end of each of the rods, and it will be noted that the spring 17 normally forces the said rods into engagement with the keepers 19, and that, as previously stated, when the rods are rotated, they are sustained in locked position by the studs 11. The nut 16, being adjustable, providing means for regulating the tension. of the spring 17 Should it be desirable to retain the rods in an unlocked position, the angular portions or finger holes 15 may be drawn together against the tension of the spring 17, the said rods being rotated so as to bring the inner edges of their finger-holes 15 into engagement with the inner edges of the studs 11. In order to sustain the gate section 7 in an open position, the sides of the wagon body are provided with keeper memhere 18 that are arranged near the upper edges of the sides. These keepers are in the form of plates and are provided with openings through which pass the ends of the rods 14-.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,

the simplicity of the device, as well as its advantages will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such inventions appe'rtain without further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: i

1. An end gate including an upper and a lower member hingedly connected together, keeper members disposed adjacent to the upper and lower members, spring pressed locking rods carried by the lower member of the gate and adapted to engage with the member, the central plate having outstruck -7' lugs, a pair of rods passing through the ears and having their inner ends provided with hand holds, the said hand holds being normally disposed between the opposed face of adjustable element for each of the rods, a sprmg arranged upon each of the rods and exerting a tension between its respective ad- :justable element and its respective ears of the central plate, and keepers adapted to be engaged by the rods to lock the lower mem ber of the gate either in a. closed or an open position r In testimony whereof I, afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. F EASTER.

Witnesses: MURRY, SMITH, J. E. 'NEWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C.

the ears and lugs f said central plate, an r: 

